Ella Rosenberg, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs, argues in a new article that while Western enforcement focuses on Russian capital, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to exploit Dubai's free-trade zones, hawala networks, and illegal financing channels in the UAE to fund its regional activities, according to reports.
Ella Rosenberg, a researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Foreign and Security Affairs, released a new article arguing that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to exploit Dubai's free-trade zones, hawala networks, and illicit finance channels in the United Arab Emirates to fund its regional operations. Rosenberg contends that Western enforcement efforts have focused overwhelmingly on Russian capital, overlooking the more sophisticated financial networks of the IRGC. She notes that the UAE has implemented significant anti-money-laundering reforms, but argues the real test is its ability to counter the IRGC's intricate financial infrastructure. 'Striking at the IRGC's funding sources is a shared interest of the UAE and Europe, not just a sanctions-enforcement issue,' Rosenberg added. As The Zioneer has previously reported, the IRGC's financial activities have drawn growing international scrutiny, with New Zealand reportedly considering designating the corps a terrorist organization, and Western allies condemning IRGC intelligence and Quds Force operations globally. The analysis highlights a potential gap in financial enforcement that could allow continued IRGC funding despite ongoing reform efforts in the Gulf.
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